What Is Cognitive Processing Therapy?

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a cognitive behavioral treatment focused on helping people who are "stuck" in their thoughts about a trauma. CPT is based on the idea that symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) stem from a conflict between pre-trauma beliefs about the self and world and post-trauma information. For example, a pre-trauma belief could be, “The world is a safe place and nothing bad will happen to me,” while post-trauma information may suggest that the world is, in fact, dangerous and unpredictable. These conflicts are called “stuck points” and are addressed through various techniques such as writing about the traumatic event.

Your therapist will help you learn to become more aware of what you think and feel about your trauma and how you may be stuck in beliefs that are hurting you. You'll work with your therapist to identify and analyze your stuck points. To assist you in learning new coping skills, you'll learn how to question and challenge your thoughts and feelings and explore how you would prefer to think about the trauma. Your therapist will go over common thought patterns that people with PTSD experience and will teach you cognitive coping skills. They may ask you to look for evidence for or against your beliefs about your trauma. You will likely fill out worksheets during this part of treatment, either in therapy or afterward as homework.

Finally, you'll learn about how it's common for a person's thoughts and beliefs about the world to change after a trauma, and you'll learn how to balance the way you saw the world before and the way you see it now. Your therapy will focus on helping you in five areas in your life where people with PTSD commonly encounter issues: safety, esteem, intimacy, power or control, and trust. If you’re ready to feel safe internally and externally, feel confident and courageous, and trust yourself and others again, contact Colorway Wellness today!